Did you know that almost four in five employers have issues filling roles? It’s not easy to find good people. Some employers don’t have enough time in the day to schedule interviews.
That’s where temp agencies in Columbia, SC come in. Working with the right companies ensures faster hiring and a lighter workload.
The struggle is finding a good temp agency. Check out this guide to learn how to get started.
What Is a Staffing Agency?
So, first things first. What is a staffing agency? It’s a company that recruits employees for other companies on a temp or temp-to-hire basis.
The temp agency will take care of posting your opening on online job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor. They’ll call qualified candidates and set up interviews.
When they hire someone, they’ll run a background check and schedule training. If the candidate needs to have any vaccines or take a drug test, the temp agency will book it.
Benefits of Working With Temp Agencies in Columbia, SC
As you can see, the temp agency takes care of every step of the hiring and employee onboarding process.
This allows for faster hiring and a reduced workload. Since they handle the paperwork, you don’t have to worry about running into any legal issues.
Faster Hiring
The hiring process can be pretty time-consuming. With all the things you have to do on top of hiring employees, it can take several weeks for you to get someone onboarded. It can be a problem when you need people in a hurry.
The only thing that temp staffing solutions have on their plate is hiring the right candidates for your business. That means they can get the job done faster than you can.
Reduced Workload
As a manager, you have to review resumes, conduct interviews, and handle the employee onboarding process, on top of conducting your regular business operations. It can be a lot to tackle on your own.
That’s where temp agencies come in. They can take care of the hiring process while you focus on running your company. Their services won’t only free you up.
When it comes to temp workers, there’s not much use in training them. It’s likely that they’ll only be with your company for a short while.
Staffing agencies hire those who already have experience in your industry. That means you won’t have to assign employees to train them. The permanent staff members you have onboard can focus on their daily tasks instead of worrying about the new guy.
Less Risk
Employers have a lot of rules and legal paperwork that they have to adhere to. When you’re new to being a manager, it can be easy to make mistakes with taxes and health insurance.
Staffing agencies will handle these liabilities, so you don’t have to worry about making a company-ending mistake.
Finding the Right Temp Agency
Now that you know why you should hire a temp agency in Columbia, SC, it’s time to learn how to find the right one.
It starts with accessing your staffing needs. From there, you’ll need to set your budget and be sure to ask the right questions.
Know Your Staffing Needs
Before you start shopping around for your ideal staffing agency, it helps to know what your staffing needs are. Do you want to hire someone to work temporarily? Doing so comes with a single lump-sum fee in most cases.
If you go the temp-to-hire route, you will pay a monthly fee, and you can end the employee’s contract at any time if they aren’t working out. It will also give you the chance to evaluate the employee’s performance before hiring them on full-time.
Look for Industry Experience
When looking through your staffing options, know that experience is of the utmost importance. The longer they’ve been in business, the more candidates they have in their hiring pool. That means more diverse talent that can fill your needs.
It also helps if the staffing agency has experience in your niche. They’ll be more familiar with the traits and skills a candidate needs to be successful in your industry.
The easiest way to evaluate an agency’s expertise in your field is to find out the number of clients they’ve worked with who are similar to you.
Set a Budget
You don’t want to invest your entire business bank account into hiring a staffing agency, but that doesn’t mean you should choose the cheapest option available.
Agencies that offer big promises for a low cost often cut corners, which could end up costing you. You’ll end up with unscreened candidates that don’t fit your job opening.
Be sure to look out for temp agencies that charge fees after you’ve ended the contract, too.
Understand Their Process
Always ask potential staffing agencies to walk you through their process. You want to know how they find their candidates, whether it be from referrals or online job boards.
Ask about their employee screening process. Do they manually comb over resumes or do they have an AI program that does it for them?
Some staffing agencies ask that potential candidates take tests to show that they’re qualified for the position. On top of knowledge tests, they’ll also conduct background checks and drug tests.
Ask Questions
By now, you’ve most likely sensed a theme when it comes to choosing a temp agency in Columbia, SC. It’s to ask questions!
You want to know about their interview-to-hire ratio, their relationship with their previous clients, their cost structure, their retention strategy, and the services they provide. Some companies will take care of both your HR and hiring needs. They might even offer payroll services.
Finding Top Temp Agencies in Columbia, SC
If you’re having difficulty finding qualified candidates to fill your job openings, you’re not alone. It’s something that many employers struggle with. Temp agencies in Columbia, SC are here to help!
Since 1958, Defender has been helping employers with their staffing needs. We specialize in commercial maintenance, landscaping, manufacturing, and more. Contact us to request a quote and find out more about our services.
